In Luke 13:10–17, Jesus heals a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years, doing so intentionally on the Sabbath to challenge the rigid interpretations of religious law. While the synagogue leader protests, citing Sabbath restrictions, Jesus highlights the hypocrisy of caring for animals on the Sabbath but denying healing to a fellow child of Abraham. This moment underscores that true holiness is not found in strict rule-following but in love—love of God and neighbor. Right belief should lead to right living, and if our theology doesn’t produce love, it misses the heart of God’s law.

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Good morning, friends. It’s a joy to be with you this Thursday as we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke. I hope your week has been going well, and I’m looking forward to another meaningful time together in God’s Word.

Today, we’re reading from Luke 13:10–17. In this passage, Jesus is teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath when He encounters a woman who has been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She is bent over and unable to stand up straight. Jesus sees her, calls her over, and says, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” He lays His hands on her, and immediately she is healed.

However, the leader of the synagogue becomes indignant. He tells the crowd that there are six days for work and healing should be done on those days—not on the Sabbath. Jesus responds by calling out their hypocrisy: “Don’t each of you untie your ox or donkey on the Sabbath to give it water? Then shouldn’t this woman, a daughter of Abraham, be set free on the Sabbath from what has bound her for eighteen years?”

This moment is powerful. Jesus isn’t just healing—He’s making a statement. Unlike other healings where people cry out to Him, this time Jesus initiates the healing. He sees her and calls her forward. It’s an intentional act, knowing full well it would stir controversy. You could say Jesus was “looking for trouble”—not out of rebellion, but to challenge a system that had lost sight of compassion.

The religious leaders were focused on the letter of the law, but Jesus was focused on its spirit. The Sabbath was meant to be holy, yes—but holiness, as John Wesley taught, is about perfect love: love of God and love of neighbor. If our interpretation of the law leads us away from love, then we’ve missed the point.

Here’s a challenging thought: hatred is heresy. We often think of heresy as incorrect doctrine—misunderstanding the Trinity or the resurrection. But if our theology leads us to hate, exclude, or ignore suffering, then it’s just as heretical. True orthodoxy—right belief—should lead to orthopraxy—right living. And right living looks like love.

So today, ask yourself:

• Is my theology producing love in me?
• Are my beliefs helping me love God more deeply and love my neighbor more fully?
• Are my thoughts and emotions aligned with the fruits of the Spirit?

We must remember that both our hearts and our minds are fallen. Just as we test our emotions against Scripture, we must also test our intellect. If our beliefs aren’t producing love, then they aren’t leading us to holiness.

Jesus challenges the religious leaders because their doctrines were keeping people in bondage. They were placing burdens on others that they themselves couldn’t carry. But Jesus came to set us free—to lead us into a life of perfect love.

So as you reflect today, consider what your faith is producing in your life. Is it leading you to love? Is it freeing others? Is it reflecting the heart of Jesus?

Tomorrow, we’ll continue in Luke 13 and explore a few parables that will help us live more fully into the life God calls us to. Thanks for being here—it’s always a blessing to study God’s Word with you. Have a great day!